Local | Religion & Jewish Life

Series will blend Torah insights, modern psychology

A new Chabad adult education course will explore what Judaism has to say about common negative emotions such as sadness, anxiety, anger, guilt, and shame.

Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin (Britta Van Vranken)
Rabbi Ephraim Zimmerman

“Worrier to Warrior: Jewish Secrets to Feeling Good However You Feel” will be presented by Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin at the Tucson Jewish Community Center, in cooperation with Chabad Tucson. It will run on six Wednesdays, 7-8:30 p.m., starting Nov. 13. It will also be presented by Rabbi Ephraim Zimmerman of Chabad of Oro Valley, with two sessions to choose from, Tuesdays, 10-11:30 a.m. beginning Nov. 12, or Sundays, 6:30-8 p.m., beginning Nov. 10, both at 1171 E. Rancho Vistoso Blvd., #131.

The course, from the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute, is accredited for mental health and medical professionals seeking to fulfill their continuing education requirements. Psychologists, doctors, social workers, LPC’s and LMFT’s can earn up to 15 continuing education units for participation in this course.

Kevin Goeta Kreisler, M.D., a board-certified psychiatrist in Tucson, says he is looking forward to the course. “What better tools to learn from than our 3,500-year-old text,” he says. “I have been to a number of JLI courses. They offer a great view of the secrets of the Torah that are as pertinent today ‘in our everchanging world’ as they have ever been.”

Steven M. Southwick, M.D. of the department of psychiatry at the Yale University School of Medicine has endorsed the course: “It is well-known that positive emotions rest at the heart of overall well-being and happiness. But how to effectively enhance positive emotion remains challenging. Worrier to Warrior approaches this challenge from an insightful perspective grounded in contemporary psychology and Jewish literature. This is an exciting and very impressive course unlike any I have seen.”

The cost is $99 and includes a textbook. Enroll for the class at the Tucson J at www.chabadtucson.com/FeelingsCourse. To enroll in a Chabad of Oro Valley session, visit www.jewishorovalley.com. To attend Chabad Tucson’s first class for free, email info@ChabadTucson.com. For the Chabad of Oro Valley sessions, select “Free first class tryout” when registering.